Shortly before she turned 104, Jacksonville resident Anita Morris, the daughter of Italian immigrants, was honored for helping protect the United States during World War II.
The Coast Guard veteran is a patient of Community Hospice & Palliative Care, where staff organized a ceremony for Morris to receive a special service pin and flag for her birthday. They brought in family members, active-duty Coast Guard members and even an honor guard to help celebrate her service.
Morris, who was a petty officer second class, was surprised and touched…